Tens of thousands of railway workers will go on strike for three days later this month in the industry’s largest walkout in a generation, according to reports.
Members of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 13 train operators will go on strike on June 21, 23, and 25.
In a separate dispute over jobs and pensions, the RMT has called for another 24-hour strike on London Underground.
Tube employees will go on strike on June 21, coinciding with the start of the first rail strike, guaranteeing major travel disruption.
Tube employees will go on strike on June 21, coinciding with the start of the first rail strike, guaranteeing major travel disruption.
According to the union, this will be the largest rail strike since 1989.
In a deepening dispute over compensation and job losses, union members overwhelmingly voted for strike action last month.
According to the RMT, rail workers who worked during the pandemic faced wage freezes and hundreds of job cutbacks.
‘Railway employees have been treated appallingly, and despite our best efforts in negotiations, the rail industry, with the help of the government, has failed to take their complaints seriously,’ said RMT general secretary Mick Lynch.
‘We are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, and it is intolerable that railway workers lose their jobs or face another year of wage stagnation while inflation is at 11.1 percent and growing.
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Our union will now launch a persistent campaign of industrial action to bring the railway system to a halt.
‘Rail corporations are profiting at least £500 million a year, and fat cat rail executives have been paid millions during the Covid-19 pandemic.’
‘This inequity fuels our members’ rage and drive to obtain a just payment.’
RMT is willing to engage in genuine discussions with rail executives and governments, but they will need to come up with new alternatives to avoid months of rail disruption.’
More than 50,000 railway workers will strike on June 21, according to the union, with the action affecting the whole national railway network for the full week.
‘We continue to meet with our trade unions to discuss their pay concerns, and we’re doing everything we can to avert strike action on the railway,’ Network Rail CEO Andrew Haines said.
‘We recognize that the cost of living has risen, and we want to give our members a raise, but the RMT must recognize that we are a government agency, and any pay increase must be affordable to taxpayers.’
‘Travel habits have evolved over time, and the railway system must adapt as well.
We cannot expect to get more than our fair share of public finances, so we must modernize our industry to ensure its long-term viability.
‘In the long run, failure to modernize will only lead to industrial collapse and additional job losses.’
‘The first strike is scheduled for two weeks from now. We’ll use this time to continue talking to our unions in the hopes of finding a solution that avoids the damage that a strike would cause to all parties concerned via compromise and common sense on both sides.’
The union’s reluctance to technology has been dubbed ‘absurd,’ with one industry source saying last month that during the pandemic, employees were barred from using mobile phone apps to communicate. Ministers feel that modernisation might save millions of dollars.
The GMB union is in charge of the Heathrow strike threat.
‘Staff at Heathrow have been verbally and physically attacked by disgruntled passengers after British Airways’ staff shortages and IT breakdowns nearly brought the airport to a halt,’ claimed Nadine Houghton, the group’s national officer.
‘On top of that, their compensation was lowered as a result of BA’s heartless fire-and-rehire program.’
‘Now they want that money back. Bosses have had it back. Heathrow ground and check in staff want to know why they haven’t had it too.
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Unrest is now spreading like wildfire among other BA employees, with many more mulling a vote to strike.
‘If British Airways does not give these workers what is legitimately theirs, they will face a long summer of travel turmoil.’
Civil servants have also threatened countrywide strike action, which may disrupt essential infrastructure like as ports, courts, and airports, after being granted a 2% salary increase that they feel insufficient in light of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, which is currently producing inflation rates of 9%.